Kris Jenkins has grown into being one of the best players on a Villanova team that will be playing for the national championship on Monday night.
But Jenkins may not be on the Villanova roster right now preparing for a national championship game without his brother, who he will be playing against on Monday, Nate Britt.
The story of the brotherhood of Jenkins and Britt gained national attention when Jenkins was spotted cheering for UNC in the Elite Eight after Villanova had already advanced to the Final Four.
While the two are not brothers by blood, Britt’s parents have been Jenkins legal guardians since 2007.
“We were recruiting Nate,” Villanova head coach Jay Wright said describing the unique recruiting process that led to the Wildcats landing Jenkins. “And we liked Kris. But we just thought, you know what, he’s overweight, and he’s not going to come in and do all the stuff we do.”
Wright said that he told Jenkins that he liked his game, but things would not be easy for him if he came to Villanova.
“You’re going to have to come in here and change your diet; you’re going to have to work out hard; you’re going to have to get your body fat tested,” Wright recalled telling Jenkins. “That’s what we want you do.”
Wright said that Nate Britt Sr. later told the coaching staff that Jenkins loved what he heard in that meeting.
“And we said, to each other, ‘Hey, if he loved that, we want this guy,’” Wright remembered telling other members of the coaching staff.
Wright added that it has been impressive to watch Jenkins develop.
“He came in from day one and as a college freshman had to watch what he ate, had to get tested every morning, had to ride a bike extra to get his weight down. It’s unbelievable. And he continues to get better and better. I think you haven’t even seen the best of him yet.”
Jenkins and Britt played together in high school and have not met during their collegiate careers.
On Monday night, they will meet on the biggest of stages.
Related Stories
‹
![]()
Championship Win Affects Franklin Street BusinessesTake a walk down Franklin Street any day and you’ll see people. But taking a walk down post-championship is a different story. “The National Championship win… even every time the Heels progress, there’s an impact on downtown and it grows,” said Meg McGurk, Executive Director of the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership. “And with the National […]

Chansky's Notebook: The PiecesArt Chansky’s Sports Notebook is presented by The Casual Pint. YOUR place for delicious pub food paired with local beer. Choose among 35 rotating taps and 200+ beers in the cooler. Paxson Wojcik, hopefully, is just the first piece of Hubert Davis’ plan. Carolina fans who noticed that Caleb Love entered the transfer portal the […]

UNC, Chapel Hill Leaders Discourage Gathering Ahead of UNC-Duke GameAhead of the UNC - Duke basketball game on Saturday, university and Chapel Hill officials are asking the campus community to abstain from Franklin Street celebrations if the Tar Heels see another win.

UNC Basketball Fans Rush Franklin Street Despite Health and Safety WarningsThe time-honored tradition of UNC basketball fans rushing Franklin Street was discouraged this year due to health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic. But the warning from officials did not stop fans from gathering at the intersection of Franklin and Columbia Street on Saturday night following UNC’s win over Duke. https://twitter.com/sclaire_perry/status/1358224064708501504 Earlier on Saturday, UNC sent […]

Roy Williams on California Student-Athlete Compensation Law: 'It's Dadgum Complicated'When asked about California’s Senate Bill 206, UNC head coach Roy Williams evoked a phrase said often by the hall-of-famer. “I have no idea,” he said. “It’s dadgum complicated, and it’s going to be coming in 2023. Hell, I hope I’m alive in 2023; I hope I’m still teeing it up.” Williams is right: it […]
![]()
Chansky's Notebook: Them The Rules!Why is Late Night with Roy so early this season? When people learn the first official basketball practice – at UNC known as Late Night with Roy – is the earliest it has ever been, they ask how come? It is usually in October, if not as late as that sacred date of October 15, […]

One Week: Exploring Our 'Hometowns'Exploring our ‘hometowns’ is an activity that has been continually present in my life thus far. As a 16-year-old, I have accumulated a sense of the culture of our hometown communities as well as what they have to offer; to enumerate: where to grab a bite to eat, fun activities, places to shop and must-see […]

UNC Champion Theo Pinson Graduates with StyleTheo Pinson’s career in Chapel Hill was highlighted by back-to-back national title appearances as a sophomore and junior, with a championship coming in 2017. He earned All-ACC honorable mention and was a driving force behind the 118 wins that the Tar Heels earned during his collegiate career. But now, Pinson can add one more thing […]
![]()
The Tar Heels Will Win It All In 2018. Here's Why.Tar Heels, never fear. We've seen this story before...and it turned out okay.
![]()
Brothers Jenkins and Britt Prepare for National Championship ShowdownKris Jenkins has grown into being one of the best players on a Villanova team that will be playing for the national championship on Monday night. But Jenkins may not be on the Villanova roster right now preparing for a national championship game without his brother, who he will be playing against on Monday, Nate […]
›